Vending machine



Dec. 28, 1965 R DWARDS ET AL 3,225,882

VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 INVENTORSROBERT N. EDWARDS LAWRENCE c. REESE ATTORNEYS Dec. 28, 1965 R. N.EDWARDS ET AL 3,225,882

VENDING MACHINE wdwwu, p )4 MM ATTORNEYS R. N. EDWARDS ETAL 3,225,882

VENDING MACHINE Dec. 28, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 13,1958 LAWRENCE C. REE SE Mad) ATTORNEYS Dec. 28, 1965 R N. EDWARDS ET AL3,225,882

VENDING I MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.6'.

Joe I06 IN VENTOR5 ROBERT N. EDWARDS LAWREN CE C. REESE Dec. 28, 1965EDWARDS ETAL 3,225,882

VENDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Jan. 13, 1958 FIG. .9.

FIGJ4.

INVENTORS ROBERT N. EDWARDS LAWRENCE c. REESE WW9M ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent Ofiice 3,225,882 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 3,225,882 VENDINGMACHENE Robert N. Edwards, Chamblee, and Lawrence C. Reese, Six,Atlanta, Ga, assignors, by mesne assignments, to The OiijakManufacturing Company, Inc., Stroudshurg, Pa., a corporation of New.Iersey Original application Jan. 13, 1958, Ser. No. 708,559, now PatentNo. 3,092,234, dated June 4, 1963. Divided and this application Apr. 30,1962, er. No. 196,024

4 Claims. (Cl. 194-6) This application is a division of our co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 708,559, filed January 13, 1958, now Patent No.3,092,234 issued June 4, 1963.

This invention relates to form issuing apparatus, and more particularlyto an improved, completely automatic coin actuated vending machine forselling and dispensing insurance contracts.

A primary object of the present invention relates to improvements incoin controlled operating circuits for various vending machines and moreparticularly to provide a coin selecting mechanism to detect and preventfraud in the use of these machines and to insure opera tion of thedevice only by the correct sequence of coins with which it is intendedto function.

An important object of this invention is to provide a form issuingapparatus embodying mechanism for feeding continuous collated originaland transfer webs on which the contracts of insurance are printed, andwhich shall be effective to simultaneously advance the original form weband the transfer web at different rates for minimizing the consumptionof web material while maintaining a smooth, even feeding of both webs.

A further object is to safeguard the original policy form so that itcannot be handled by the purchaser until all data, such as the insuredsignature, beneficiary, date, or such other insertions as are necessary,have been reproduced on the actual policy and duplicated for subsequentretention in the machine.

Another object is to provide a. completely portable, self containedvending machine in which the sequential operation of the component partsis attained and maintained by a simplified electrical system withoutreliance upon an external electrical source.

An additional object of the present'invention is to provide a machinewhich is completely automatic and trouble free in operation, extremelysimple in construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, designedto function in various operating positions, and otherwise well adaptedfor the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and the entire scope of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating the preferred embodiments of the invention,are given by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent as the description herein progresses.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention can be best understood withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device with the cover in closedposition;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device, similar to that shown inFIGURE 1, with the cover raised;

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view taken through the Vending machine,with parts removed, showing the feeding mechanism and web supply;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the movement of the formand transfer webs;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view partially in section, with parts removed,showing the feed and coin mechanisms;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view with parts removed, taken alongthe line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of the coin and latching mechanism viewedfrom the side;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the coin release mechanismtaken along the line 88 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of the coin mechanism;

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 10-10 ofFIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a rear elevational view of the coin mechanism shown inFIGURE 9;

FIGURES 12 and 13 are schematic views of the coin chute illustrating apart of the coin detecting mechanism; and

FIGURE 14 is a schematic sectional view taken on the line 14-14 ofFIGURE 13.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the vendingmachine forming the subject matter of the present invention has an outercasing indicated generally by the reference character 14 in FIGURE 1.The casing 14 includes an upper cover member 16 which is hinged at 18 toa lower base member 20. The outer casing 14 may be formed from anysuitable shock resistant plastic material so as to substantially reducethe overall weight of the machine.

Housed within the casing 14 is a frame or chassis 22 provided with sideplates 24 and 26 which are held in spaced relation by means of an uppercross member 48. The side plates 24 and 26 are joined together at theirlower edges by means of a base plate 3%, thus providing a generallychannel shaped frame as shown in FIGURE 6.

The present device is adapted to issue individual contractual forms,intermittently, from a continuous supply web defined by a plurality ofseparable sections 19 which correspond to an individual form. In turn,each form contains, in alternate sequence, a receipt and a contractualdocument relating to that receipt. The receipt contains all thenecessary data which must be filled in by the applicant prior toissuance of an insurance policy. In practice, it is desirable to retaina duplicate copy of this receipt in the vending machine. Heretofore,machines of this type have not only retained a copy of the applicantsreceipt but also an unnecessary duplicate of the contractual documentportion. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by utilizing aseparate transfer or duplicating sheet 44 for recording only the datainscribed and entered on the original receipt. This is accomplished by anovel differential feed mechanism which simultaneously advances both theoriginal form and the transfer sheet at a constant differential rate sothat the original form web 46 travels a predetermined distance equal tothe length of the contractual document and receipt section 1% While thetransfer sheet 44 progresses a distance equal only to the length of theoriginal receipt.

In the present instance, separate upper and lower tray members 32 and 34respectively, are retained in the lower portion of the channel frame 22to form separate supply compartments or chambers. As will be noted inFIGURE 3, the upper tray member 32 is hinged at 36 to the rear wall ofthe lower tray member 34 for permitting unitary removal of the supplycompartment.

The original form web 40 preferably consists of a plurality of severablyconnected sections 19 supplied in folded packs 42 which are deposited inthe lower supply tray 34, while the folded duplicating or transfer sheet44 may be deposited in the upper tray 32 as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.The form web 40 and transfer sheet 44 are collectively fed upwardlyacross a writing support or platform member 48 (from right to left asviewed in FIGURE 3) which is secured to the upper edges of the sidepanels 24 and 26 and extends longitudinally toward the rear of thecasing 14. The leading edge of the platform member 48 is in the form ofa curved inturned guide member 50 which serves to effectively guide bothpaper webs across the top of the writing support. The original form 40passes outwardly through a delivery opening 46 formed in the upper covermember 16, while the transfer sheet 44 is retained within the machineand refolded in a suitable receiving tray 38 mounted above the uppertray 32. The machine, as previously indicated, contemplates requiringthe perspective purchaser to write on theface of the policy to bedispensed, certain data vital to the validity of the policy, and to thisend the machine is provided with an entry aperture 52 formed in the top17 of the upper cover member 16 which is aligned with the policyreceipt. In order to transfer a duplicate copy to the transfer sheet 44,the rear surface of the original receipt 40 may be coated with carbon inthe manner well understood.

The paper feed mechanism is driven by an electric motor 54 through asuitable reduction gear train 56 which are secured to the cross-member28. The upper form web 40 is separately advanced across the writingplatform member 48 by means of primary feed wheels 58 and 5811, eachcarrying a plurality of upstanding pins 59 around the periphery thereof.The pins 59 are adapted to engage marginally disposed rows of holes 62formed in the continuous web 40. A pair of secondary feed wheels 60 and66a are rotatably mounted below the platform member 48 to independentlyadvance the transfer sheet 44. Peripheral pins 61 extend outwardly fromthe secondary feed wheels 60 and 611a for engaging similar marginallydisposed openings 62 formed in the transfer sheet 44. A transversereturn aperture 64 is formed in the support member 48 rearwardly of theaccess or entry opening 52 to permit reentry of the transfer sheet 44.

A guide chute 66 extends downwardly from the return opening 64 fordirecting the transfer sheet 44 across the secondary feed wheels 66 and69a to the receiving tray 38, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. A pair ofdownwardly extending slots (not shown) formed in both the front and rearwalls of the guide chute 66 are normally aligned with the feed pins 61serving to retain the transfer sheet 44 in positive engagement therewithbut may be retracted to reload the machine. In addition, a pair ofspring biased retainers 68 may be mounted on the inner surface of theupper cover 16 to lock the form web 40 in positive engagement with thepins 59 of the primary feed wheels 58 and 58a, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The primary and secondary feed wheels 58 and 60 are coupled torespective rotating shafts 70 and 72 which are 111 turn mounted forrotation in suitable bearing blocks 76 carried by the side plates 24 and26 of the frame 22. Feed shaft sprockets 7S and 80 are keyed directly tothe respective primary and secondary drive shafts 70 and 72 while thedriving sprocket 82 is connected to the gear train shaft 84. A chain 81directly connects the driving sprocket 82 to the secondary feed sprocket80 which in turn is adapted to drive the primary feed sprockets 78through a chain "83.

The primary and secondary feed wheels 58 and 60 are driven at a constantpredetermined gear ratio in order to advance the original form web andtransfer sheet a selected predetermined distance whereby the transfersheet 44 merely progresses a distance equal only to the length of theoriginal receipt, while the form web 40 travels a distance equal to thelength of an individual form section 19, as described hereinbefore. Forexample, the present machine has been designed to issue an eight inchoriginal insurance form which includes a re ceipt two inches in length.Accordingly, the secondary feed sprocket 80 is geared to operate at a 4to 1 ratio to drive the transfer sheet 44 two inches during a completerevolution of the primary feed wheel. As will readily be understood,this novel concept of a differential drive between the primary andsecondary feed wheels affords -a substantial saving in paper since themachine merely retains a duplicate of the receipt without unnecessarilyretaining a copy of the contractual document.

The present machine is provided with a coin mechanism generallyindicated by the numeral 86 which serves to actuate and initiallycontrol the operation of the drive motor 54 through a simplifiedelectrical system without reliance upon the usual solenoids or relays. Acoin slot 91) is located in the face of the upper cover member 16 whilethe usual return opening 92 for coins which are of incorrectdenomination is provided in the lower side wall of the casing 14. Thecoin mechanism 86 includes a movable coin chute 94 having an upperentrance opening 96 registering with the coin slot and a lower dischargeopening 98 at the opposite end thereof in alignment with the coin returnpassage 100. The front and rear panels 111 and 112 of the coin chute 94are joined by side walls 113 and 114 to define a coin channel 91.

In the present invention, the coin chute 94 is pivotally suspended andsupported by a mounting block 102 formed from insulating material. Amounting bracket 104 is secured to the upper end of the coin chute 94having a pair of inturned flanges 106 that are arranged to pivot aboutthe pins 16% extending laterally from the mounting block 1412. Thisconstruction permits the movable coin chute 94, which is normallymounted in juxtaposed relation with respect to the mounting block 102,to laterally swing away from the block when the release arm 110 isactuated.

A plurality of electrical contacts are mounted on the insulated block102 and project therefrom through suitable openings formed in the rearpanel 112 into the coin channel 91. The electrical contacts include apair or" upper contact members 116 and 118, which are recessed in theside walls 113 and 1 14 defining the coin channel 91, and anintermediate contact member 122 disposed above the discharge opening 98and recessed in side wall 113. Contact members 116, 118 and 122 areelectrically connected in series while an additional lower contactmember 120 is diagonally disposed below the intermediate cont-act member122 serving to complete the circuit when bridged by a coin or coins ofproper characteristics. The side walls 113 and 114 have angulatedrecessed surfaces 115 and 117 extending downwardly which function toposition and support a proper sequence of coins, as shown in FIG- URES12 and 13. For example, FIGURE 12 shows a fifty cent piece which willbridge and complete the circuit between the lower contact member 1211and the intermediate contact 122, while FIGURE 13 illustrates thevarious positions which two quarters may assume in the coin channel 91to complete the electrical circuit between the lower contact 120 andeither of the upper contact members 116 or 118. It should be noted thatmovement of the fifty cent piece is arrested by both the lower contactmember 1219 and the intermediate contact 122, while the movement of thelower quarter through channel 91 is interrupted by lower contact 120 anda coin release lug 129, rather than the intermediate contact 122, sothat the circuit will not be completed until an additional quarter isdeposited in the coin chute 94. The rear panel 112 is provided with anopening 129a which permits the chute 94 to swing away from the block 162without interference from the lug 129.

A spring biased release mechanism 124 serves to return improper 25 coindeposits and may be actuated by depressing the release lever 125 causingthe arm 127 to move clockwise withdrawing the lug 129 from the coinchannel 91.

When the electrical circuit has been bridged by the proper sequence orcombination of selected coins, the motor circuit is initially energizedcausing the motor 54 to drive the primary feed sprocket 78 which in turnmoves the associated release pin 126 into engagement with the downwardlyand laterally extending release arm 110. Upon continued rotation of theprimary feed sprocket, the release pin 126 raises the arm 110 therebycausing the coin chute 94 to swing outwardly away from the mountingblock 102 against the force of the return spring 99 to discharge thedeposited coins into a discharge chute 128 leading to a coin collectionbox 130 located rear- Wardly of the supply trays 32 and 34 and below thereceiving tray 38. Since the release of these coins would open the coincontrolled energizing circuit, a continuing circuit, in parallel withthe energizing circuit functions to take over and control subsequentenergization of the motor circuit. This is accomplished by means of anelectrical switch 132 which is opened and closed by a rotating cammember 134 secured to and driven by the drive shaft 84. The controlswitch 132 is normally open but closes when the drive shaft commences torotate upon bridging of the coin switch and remains closed until openedwhen the cam 134 completes a dispensing cycle.

In order to prevent spurious manual operation of the vending machine, alatching means, in the form of an L shaped locking member 136, ispivotally supported at 138 to control movement of the primary feed wheel58 upon completion of a dispensing cycle. The locking member 136includes an upstanding leg 140 which rotatably supports a cleated idleWheel 142 arranged to rest on the upper surface of the lower loop 83a ofthe chain 83, while the other leg 144 extends upwardly from the pivot138 toward the primary feed wheel '58 to register with a recessedlocking groove 146 formed along the peripheral surface thereof. Uponcompletion of a dispensing cycle, the lower loop 83a of the chain 83will relax and sag permitting the locking member 136 to rotate clockwiseabout the pivot 138 (as shown in FIGURE 3) depressing leg 140 andelevating leg 144 into locking engagement with groove 1146 to preventfurther advancement of the feed mechanism. When a dispensing cyclecommences, the slack in the lower loop 83a is immediately taken upcausing the locking member 136 to move counterclockso that leg 144 iswithdrawn from the locking groove Since the instant machine haseliminated all solenoids and relays from the electrical circuit, theoperating current required to energize the motor '54 may normally besupplied by two flashlight batteries which will automatically operatethe machine several hundred times without replacement. These batteriesare retained in a suitable battery conduit 150 thereby making the devicecompletely portable in operation. In addition, the coin mechanism,described hereinbefore, has been so designed and constructed that themachine may be tilted in various angulated positions without affectingits operation.

It is to be understood that although a preferred embodiment of thisinvention has been shown in the drawings and described with considerableparticularity in the foregoing specification, the invention is notlimited to specific details of construction shown and described, butincludes all modifications coming within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

We claim:

1. An electrical coin switch and release assembly comprising: a mountingblock of insulating material; a generally upright movable coin chutehaving front and rear panels, said chute being pivotally suspended nearits upper end for swinging movement toward and away from said block;first and second vertically spaced electrical contacts mounted on saidblock and projecting therefrom through openings in one of said panelsinto and at least partially across said chute in a position to retainand be bridged by a large coin; a movable coin release member normallyextending at least partially across the chute near the lowermost of saidelectrical contacts to coact with said lowermost contact for arrestingthe movement of a smaller coin when said chute is positioned adjacentsaid block; and actuating means responsive to the bridging of saidcontacts for swinging said chute away from said block whereby said chuteis cleared of coins by separating the chute from said contacts and fromsaid release member.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes:electric power operated means for swinging said chute away from saidblock; first circuit means for energising said power operated means inresponse to bridging of said contacts; and second circuit means forenergising said power operated means after said first circuit means isopened as a result of the coins in said chute being moved away from saidcontacts.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said chute has an arm securedthereto; wherein said power operated means includes an electric motorand a rotatable shaft driven thereby, said shaft having a projectionwhich engages and moves said arm upon rotation of said shaft and saidmotor being actuated through said first circuit means by bridging ofsaid contacts; and wherein said second circuit means includes a switchwhich is closed by initial operation of said motor.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said release member is horizontallyspaced from the lowermost contact and wherein a third and fourth contactare spaced above said release member, the arrangement being such thatbridging the lowermost contact with either of said third and fourthcontacts efiects operation of said actuating means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,498,548 6/1924Hughes 1946 1,644,371 10/1927 Goldman 194--7 1,699,930 1/ 1929 Thompson1946 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ELECTRICAL COIN SWITCH AND RELEASE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A MOUNTINGBLOCK OF INSULATING MATERIAL; A GENERALLY UPRIGHT MOVABLE COIN CHUTEHAVING FRONT AND REAR PANELS, SAID CHUTE BEING PIVOTALLY SUSPENDED NEARITS UPPER END FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BLOCK;FIRST AND SECOND VERTICALLY SPACED ELECTRICAL CONTACTS MOUNTED ON SAIDBLOCK AND PROJECTING THEREFROM THROUGH OPENINGS IN ONE OF SAID PANELSINTO AND AT LEAST PARTIALLY ACROSS SAID CHUTE IN A POSITION TO RETAINAND BE BRIDGED BY A LARGE COIN; A MOVABLE COIN RELEASE MEMBER NORMALLYEXTENDING AT LEAST PARTIALLY ACROSS THE CHUTE NEAR THE LOWERMOST OF SAIDELECTRICAL CONTACTS TO COACT WITH SAID LOWERMOST CONTACT FOR ARRESTINGTHE MOVEMENT OF A SMALLER COIN WHEN SAID CHUTE IS POSITIONED ADJACENTSAID BLOCK; AND ACTUATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE BRIDGING OF SAIDCONTACTS FOR SWINGING SAID CHUTE AWAY FROM SAID BLOCK WHEREBY SAID CHUTEIS CLEARED OF COINS BY SEPARATING THE CHUTE FROM SAID CONTACTS AND FROMSAID RELEASE MEMBER.